Port state control focuses on navigation

The two major port state control regimes, the Paris MoU and the Tokyo MoU, focus on navigation safety in a so-called concentrated inspection campaign, which takes place from September 1 to November 30, 2017. The campaign is carried out as part of the routine port state control.

"The overall purpose is to improve safety at sea. In this year's campaign, attention is focused on the overall navigation safety of the vessel, compliance with relevant points of the SOLAS Convention, including the use and maintenance of navigation equipment, navigation planning and crew competencies in navigation-related tasks," says Martin John.

All Danish ships, routinely inspected under Tokyo and Paris MoU, should therefore expect to be included in the campaign. In 2016, Danish ships were inspected more than 600 times. In Denmark, annual port state control is carried out on 400-500 foreign vessels visiting Danish ports.

Denmark is on the white lists of Paris MoU and Tokyo MoU, and is designated as the QUALSHIP 21 nation, which is the US port state control.

The main goals of this year's campaign are that navigation equipment on board must comply with applicable rules, have valid certificates and be duly substantiated. The associated equipment must be properly maintained and functioning satisfactorily. Finally, the captain and the navigational navigator must be able to operate all equipment on the bridge, with particular focus on ECDIS.

Port State Inspectorates use a table of 12 questions on navigation safety. The questionnaire has been published and can be found on the Paris MoU website. The Danish Maritime Authority has sent further information to shipping companies, etc.